Rabindranath Tagore, the ardent defender of public liberty once made
a grievous mistake of accepting the invitation of the fascist dictator
Mussolini. This incident gave rise to an international backlash which caused repercussions,
especially amongst the left-wing press in Europe. In the end, Tagore had to
diffuse the situation by writing a long letter to Charles Andrews explaining in
detail the background of his invitation. The letter was published in The
Manchester Guardian on 5 August 1926. A re-edited version of the letter,
in translation, was subsequently published in several papers in the European
Press. However, it took some time to clear the misunderstandings surrounding Tagore’s
visit to Mussolini’s Italy. This piece briefly describes the story of an
imperfect encounter between two personalities whose ideologies and beliefs were
worlds apart.

Tagore visited Italy twice in his life time, once in 1925 and again a
year later in 1926, though he passed through the country several times before and
during his visits to England.

It was on his
second visit to Italy, that he met Mussolini twice.

Political
backdrop of Italy in the 1920s

Before October 1922, the year when Mussolini came into power, there
was political turmoil in Italy and Luigi Facta, the Prime Minister, failed to
deal with Mussolini’s insurgency. The economy was unstable and there was an
alarming growth of public disorder especially with the rise of crime and murder.
The parliamentary system failed to tackle the crisis. Although the Socialists
were one of the most dominating political forces in the country, the
intelligentsia failed to accept them as a ruling party. With such chaos in
place, Mussolini was able to come into power. After his famous march in Rome in October 1922, King Vittorio Emmanule, with no other alternatives, asked Mussolini
and his National Fascist Party to form the Government.

Mussolini quickly took charge of the situation, using his private
army the Blackshirts, who ruthlessly controlled all who opposed Mussolini. Freedom
of press was subsequently abolished and overnight all papers were forced to
convert into fascist press.

In 1924, Mussolini and his militia used violence, propaganda, and vote-rigging
to win his first election with an absolute majority. Some of the socialist
leaders such as Amendola and Matteotti challenged the election. As a result,
they were eventually assassinated by the Blackshirts. A mass persecution took
place and many intellectuals namely Profs Salvadori and Salvemini; conductor
Toscanini; Angelica Balabanoff, an expert of European socialism; and many others
fled from the country and took refuge elsewhere in Europe.

The appalling treatment of these socialists, especially the
assassination of Matteotti and Amendola had a detrimental effect on Mussolini’s
image in the rest of the world. Adverse criticism found its way in some
socialists papers published in France. One thing Mussolini knew from the very
beginning was that to enhance his prestige at home his international image must
be upheld and without a strong foreign policy and the right kind of propaganda
that image could not be achieved. He often invited the foreign press,
dignitaries and cultural delegations to publicise and demonstrate the positive successes
of his regime and divert the international attention away from the Matteotti
incident.

Against this political backdrop Tagore came to Italy in 1925 to begin his first tour on his voyage back from Argentina.

First Italian
tour, 1925

Tagore’s official invitation for his first visit came from the
non-governmental academic body, The Philological Society of Milan. In addition,
he was supposed to visit Florence and Turin as the original tour was scheduled
for 25 days. But he had to cut short his tour as he became ill. The Italian
medical team did not take any chances advising Tagore to return to India. His proposed tour in Florence and Turin were cancelled. Eventually he went to Brindisi, via a short detour in Venice, to embark on the liner heading back to India.

Tagore’s ill health caused some embarrassment for his tour organisers.
Tagore himself also felt embarrassed as he was overwhelmed by the warm
reception given to him by the people of Milan and Venice. Keen to return and
visit more of Italy, he expressed his intention of coming back when his health
would allow him to travel. He conveyed this message in a poem which was
translated into Italian and published in the Italian press before he left.

In Milan Tagore met Prof. Formichi, a distinguished Sanskrit scholar
and an Indologist of Rome University. Formichi was also the lead person that organised
the Poet’s tour with The Philological Society and later on, was the interpreter
throughout Tagore’s visit. Before leaving Milan, Tagore invited Formichi to join
Visvabharati as a visiting professor at his university’s expense and requested that
he find enough funds to set up an exchange programme for an Italian scholar
that, in addition, would bring Italian books on literature and art. Prof.
Formichi accepted the invitation.

Tagore did not tour Rome so was unable to meet Mussolini in 1925,
although Mussolini himself was aware of Tagore’s presence in Milan.

Second
Italian tour, 1926

Prof. Formichi received the official appointment letter from Visvabharati
in July 1925. He was both delighted and apprehensive as he was unable to source
funding for an Italian scholar for the proposed exchange programme. Furthermore,
he was unable to purchase the Italian books he promised Tagore. The situation
was a little embarrassing for Formichi as he was aware that other European
visiting professors who preceded him donated substantial amounts of resources
to Tagore’s University. Being desperate for funds and finding no other alternatives
he ultimately wrote a letter directly to Mussolini explaining everything and
requesting support.

Until that point, Mussolini had no issues or policies towards India. His only reference to India was found in an article published in Il Popolo d’Italia
where he predicted the Mophla rebellion would be the end of British rule in India. In fact, during the mid-twenties, the situation in India became favourable with
fascist propagandists; for a few years the above article by Mussolini was the
only commentary on India available in Italy.1

However, when Formichi’s letter arrived at his desk for his personal
attention, immediately a sinister plan was triggered in his mind. He became
seriously interested in Tagore. Perhaps he assumed that any positive remarks and
praise by Tagore, a symbol of peace and human liberty with towering
international fame and respect (at least during that period), for his fascist
regime would be highly valued by the outside world.

Suddenly Tagore became a big catch to Mussolini, and there were
other advantages. Tagore did not know the language and was not much aware of
Italian politics. So when Formichi’s application came to his desk for his
personal attention, Mussolini generously approved the application. Mussolini
was confident his approval would act as bait and Tagore was bound to be hooked.

Prof. Formichi’s worries were over. He joined Visvabharati in
November 1925 and brought with him the entire library of Italian classics, and
the service of Prof. Tucci, another distinguished scholar of Indology for a
year all paid for by the Italian government.

Tagore was overwhelmed at Mussolini’s gesture and immediately cabled
Mussolini expressing his gratitude. He wrote:

“…I assure you that such expression of
sympathy, coming as it does from the representative of the Italian people, will
open a channel of communication of cultural relations between your country and
ours, which has every possibility to produce and event of great historical
relevance.”2

Tagore wanted to show his gratitude personally by going to Rome and asking Prof. Formichi to arrange his trip. A second visit was due in any case as
Tagore wanted to keep the promise he made on his first visit. Prof. Formichi informed
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the poet’s intention of visiting Italy again. Now, Mussolini’s plan was off the ground. The Government extended their
hospitality directly.

Tagore arrived in Rome on 30 May 1926. The following day, accompanying
Prof. Formichi, he went to meet Mussolini at his office in Palazzo Chigi. For
the very first time the Poet and the Dictator came face to face.

In his opening conversation Mussolini said, “I am one of those many
Italians that have read all your books; of course those that have been
translated in our language.”

Tagore was visibly moved by this statement. He thanked Mussolini for
the generous gift and for the services of Prof. Tucci at Visvabharati. Mussolini
then enquired how long the poet intended to stay in Rome.

Learning it was the Poet’s intention to visit Florence the following
week, Mussolini insisted him to stay at least a fortnight in Rome, to take
complete rest and to enjoy some sight-seeing. Tagore expressed his gratitude
further and during their extended dialogue mentioned that he had not yet
decided the subject of his public lecture. Mussolini immediately insisted:
“speak on art, speak on art.”

In this context, Mussolini’s biographer wrote, “He liked to stress
the great importance of art and he himself, inevitably, was claimed to be a
seminal influence upon contemporary artists; but in private he was ready to
confess that he did not understand pictures and inwardly he resented that Italy
had been held back from political greatness by the illusory and corrupting
pursuit of aesthetic values.”3

The conversation was extremely cordial and lasted for half an hour.
Prof. Formichi was translating Mussolini’s words into English but not Tagore’s
words into Italian as Mussolini could understand English when spoken slowly.

At the end the Prime Minister said, “Just let me know what you would
like to do best and I shall be more than happy to arrange it for you.”

On his way back to the hotel when Formichi asked Tagore about his
first impressions of Mussolini, Tagore replied, “Without any doubt he is a
great personality. There is such a massive vigour in that head that it reminds
one of Michael Angelo’s chisel. Moreover, there is a simplicity in the man
which makes it hard to believe that he is really the cruel tyrant many indulge
in depicting.”4 Parts of this statement was reported in the
press.

Again Mussolini’s biographer wrote : “…His personal magnetism worked
best with those who saw him rarely; nevertheless he could always impress a
visitor when he tried and all the fascist leaders remembered how they had at
times fallen under a real spell…”5 and Tagore was no
exception.

The above is only a small summary of the first meeting between the
two, which was also highlighted in some of the Italian Press. When a reporter
of a well circulated fascist paper asked the poet to write a few words about
the new Italy, he wrote, “Let me dream that from the fire-bath the immortal
soul of Italy will come out clothed in quenchless light.” This statement
was also quoted in several of the daily papers.

During the next two weeks (1-13 June 1926) Tagore visited most of Rome’s
landmarks, met with the King, had lunch with the British Ambassador, was received
by the Governor of Rome at the Coliseum, and gave several interviews to newspaper
reporters though some of his quotes were wrongly interpreted in the press and as
Tagore did not know the language, he found no discrepancies in what was written.
He was heartily received at the University of Rome, gave several lectures of
which the most important one was that presented at the Union of Intellectuals The
Meaning of Art, attended by Mussolini himself.

In the afternoon of his meeting with the British Ambassador Tagore
told Formichi, “As long as Mussolini lives, Italy can be said to be safe. Now I
know what I shall answer when, after crossing the Italian border, I hear people
speak ill of your country.”6 It was an irony that Tagore had
to speak ill of Italy after crossing the border!

Tagore met Mussolini for the second (and last) time before his departure
from Rome on 13 June. This time the meeting was longer and heartier. As usual, Tagore
mentioned his ideas of an East-West fellowship. He said, “Italy possesses a great personality, and therefore she as a nation most suited to promote a
rapprochement between both the Asian and the European civilisations.” Mussolini
agreed. Tagore also added, “Your Excellency, you are the most slandered man in
the world.” Mussolini, with an innocent face replied, “I know, but what can I
do?”

Then the Poet expressed his intention to meet the great Italian philosopher
Benedetto Croce. Before Mussolini could respond, Prof. Formichi objected in a
louder tone “Impossible! Impossible!” Mussolini, cunning as ever, immediately
stopped him and asked to arrange the meeting. Next, Mussolini showed Tagore the
blueprint of his plan to build an International City in Rome. Tagore was again
highly impressed and finally he requested of the Duce a signed photograph.

The meeting was over, though at present there is still no record
that this meeting was mentioned in the Italian press at that time.

The next day Tagore left Rome for Florence followed by his visit to Turin. On 22 June before leaving the border of Italy the poet sent a cable to Mussolini, “I
take leave with hearty thanks to Your Excellency, and to the Italian people
represented by Your Excellency, for your generous hospitality and kind
sentiments towards me.”7

With that note, Tagore and his party left Italy by train for Switzerland never to return Italy again!

Post
Italian Tour

In Switzerland Tagore spent a few days in the company of Romain
Rolland at Villeneuve. There he had a long conversation with Rolland, who was
very critical of the fascist regime in Italy.8 Rolland tried to give
Tagore a more truthful picture of the growing repression, violence and
atrocities that took place in the fascist state and eventually condemned his
tour.

There was no doubt that Tagore himself felt a kind of uneasiness,
especially during those latter stages of his Italian tour. But he was so
thrilled by his reception and intrigued by Mussolini, that he was unwilling to
believe he had made any mistake in coming to Italy. Rolland also made Tagore
aware of some of the oblique comments in the European press on his Italian
visit. He tried to bring Tagore out of his ambivalence, stressing the fact that
freedom of expression had been stopped in Italy.

Listening to Rolland, Tagore found himself with a great dilemma and
eventually he agreed (though under pressure) to publish a write-up in the form
of an interview, deploring some of the facts he did not like in the tour. Rolland
brought his friend Duhamel from Paris, with a view to publicising the interview
in the French press.

But that arrangement also went wrong. In his article Tagore could
not dismiss from his mind the magnificent reception he received from his
Italian host. A frustrated Rolland and Duhamel finally requested that Tagore
not say or write anything before he heard the truth from those now living in
exile.

A meeting was arranged with Tagore and Prof. Salvadori in Zurich and Modigliani in Vienna. In Zurich, Prof. Salvadori could not meet the Poet
because of his illness but his wife took his place.

In her opening conversation, Signora Salvadori asked, “You, who are
so good, why did you come to Italy, now the land of violence and persecution?”

Tagore explained the background of his tour. At one stage he said,
“I had no opportunities to study the genesis or the activities of the fascist
movement and I did not express any opinion about it. In fact in most of my
interviews I was careful to explain that I was not competent to say anything
either for or against fascism, not having studied it…About Mussolini himself I
must, however, say that he did interest me as an artist…Mussolini struck me as
a masterful personality… The people with whom I came into contact in Italy were almost unanimous in assuring me that Mussolini had saved Italy from anarchy and utter
ruin. ”

Signora Salvadori emphasised that, “… It is not true. This is the
opinion of people who are in favour of Fascism … People who hold contrary views
were not allowed to see you … It is not true that Mussolini had saved Italy
from financial ruin. The financial position of Italy was better before
Mussolini came into power. Look at the Lira, it was 70 to the pound, and it is
now 130 … Foreigners do not know, and merely repeat conventional tales. But
what makes us unhappy is that you have unintentionally helped to support
Fascism. We know it is unintentional, for you are too good to do so.”9

Signora Salvadori related to the poet only those facts which she had
personally witnessed. The whole conversation lasted for an hour and was later published
in The Manchester Guardian in October 1926. Indeed, he heard similar
stories when he met with Mr Modigliani, the attorney of the Matteoti Trial, and
Angelia Balabanoff in Vienna.

Tagore was clearly perturbed by what he had heard and developed the
same mental agitation and distress as he had during the Amritsar massacre which
took place in India seven years beforehand.

From Vienna he wrote a letter to his friend Charles Andrews in India, explaining in details the background of his Italian tour, how he was trapped by the
interviewers, that he never praised fascism at any stage of his tour but
admitted he praised Mussolini as an artist. The letter was elaborate but
courteous, eventually published in The Manchester Guardian on 5 August 1926.10

Prof. Formichi was taken aback to see the Poet’s sudden change of
attitude towards Italy: he also sent a counter article in the same paper three
weeks later stating his side of the story.

Rolland did not like the softer tone of Tagore’s letter. However, he
selected the salient points from that letter, re-edited and translated it and distributed
it amongst the European press, thus drawing a close to Tagore’s relationship
with Mussolini’s Italy.

It was true that Tagore was affected by the strange and captivating
illusion of Mussolini, but that illusion lasted until Mussolini invaded Abyssinia and other Mediterranean states. Tagore never once praised fascism at any point
during his Italian tour. As Mussolini and fascism are more or less used synonymously,
he was often misquoted in the Italian media.

The Italian people had a glimmer of Tagore’s letter to Andrews and
his interview two weeks after. The Bologna paper Assalto reported (28
August):

“That Tagore, who came to Italy twice and inflicted us on his very heavy poetic lucubration, is an old actor who is
worthy of our highest contempt…This guru is kept by various governments. He is
paid so much at each lecture… this viscid, insinuating individual, who is as honeyed
as his words and poems, came to Italy as he was invited, paid and helped by the
government. He exalted Italy, glorified fascism, and sang the praises of
Mussolini… As soon as he crossed the border, this old man with an unsound soul,
who impressed the public with his long black tunic and his white beard, talked
behind the back of Italy, Fascism and its great leader, who is endlessly
greater than him… He approximately behaved like prostitutes who always swear
they are in love with their latest customer. Today we claim we do not like
Tagore as a poet anymore because he is emasculated and without backbone. He
disgusts us as a man because he is false, dishonest and shameless.”11

And with this, Mussolini’s plan to involve Tagore in his political
propaganda came to a crashing end.

Postscript

In 1930 when Tagore came to New York after visiting Russia, he met Prof. Formichi again. Formichi was then the visiting professor of the Italian
Chair at Barclay. During the course of the conversation, Tagore expressed his
intention to resolve any misunderstandings he had with Mussolini. Formichi
suggested the Poet write a letter to Mussolini directly explaining his account.
The Poet made a draft and instead of sending it to Mussolini directly, sent it
to his son in Santiniketan for his approval. He wrote (21 November 1930):

Your Excellency

It often comes to my memory how
we were startled by the magnanimous token of your sympathy reaching us through
my very dear friend Prof. Formichi. The precious gift, the library of Italian
literature, is a treasure to us highly prized by our institution and for which
we are deeply grateful to Your Excellency.

I am also personally indebted
to you for the lavish generosity you showed to me in your hospitality when I was
your guest in Italy and I earnestly hope that the misunderstanding which was
unfortunately caused a barrier between me and the great people you represent,
the people for whom I have genuine love, will not remain permanent, and that
this expression of my gratitude to you and your nation will be accepted. The
politics of a country is its own; its culture belongs to all humanity. My
mission is to acknowledge all that has eternal value in the self-expression of
any country.

Your Excellency has nobly
offered to our institution on behalf of Italy the opportunity of a festival of
spirit which will remain inexhaustible and ever claim our homage of a cordial
admiration.

I am, Your Excellency,

Gratefully Yours

Rabindranath Tagore.12

Whether that letter was ever sent to Mussolini is still unknown. However,
according to Mario Prayer, the letter was sent but it was not clear if it ever
reached the hand of the Duce.13

[Materials of the above article are taken
from the author’s Bengali publication “Itali safare Rabindranath o Mussolini
prasanga” (a comprehensive account of Tagore’s tour in Italy) published in January 2009 from Punascha, Kolkata (India). The research was sponsored by The
Tagore Centre UK. For further information please contact
<drkundu_kalyan@yahoo.co.uk>]